What would have happened – if – Sunday, November 10, 1957
It is likely that we all have some regrets in life, and times of wondering why we didn’t do some things differently.
When events have taken an unexpected turn, we often wonder what we might have done to avoid what has happened. What did we do wrong? What could we have done differently? What would have happened—if?
Often in accidents or illnesses, those who feel responsible do the best they can, or all they thought they could, but sometimes blame themselves for not having done better, or for what they didn’t think to do. But we cannot always be sure that what we think we could have done would have changed the ultimate outcome.
Sometimes people survive cruel and crushing accidents and grievous illnesses, and sometimes people succumb to seemingly inconsequential causes. Some men survive long years against adversity, and some pass suddenly who it might seem would surely survive.
In many other things also, we are brought face to face with the uncertainties of life and with the great degree of our dependence upon Divine Providence. But in all the events of life, it is natural to look back; it is natural that questions should occur.
And if asking them helps to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, then it would be well worth asking what would have happened if we had done differently. But useless regrets, regrets that serve no good purpose, should not be allowed to keep us from facing the future effectively.
There are some things we can change, and some things we cannot now change. There are times when we can retrace our steps, and times when we can’t.
Nor can we always altogether be sure or certain what would have happened—if…. And as to those happenings which are now beyond our altering, it is unwise to waste our lives in brooding about them. There is much we can do, but there are some things we cannot do.
We can change. We can repent. Repentance is a great principle of progress.
It is the process by which we profit by the experience of the past, and we cannot afford to let our lives too long be taken over by brooding when we might be re-building.
We must profit by the experience of the past, and look with faith to the future, and must not let the useless regrets destroy the effectiveness there is yet for us to find in the future. *
*Revised.
November 10, 1957
Broadcast Number 1,473